Around the world in THREE YEARS! Thousands gather to welcome home traditional Polynesian canoes in Hawaii after they sailed across the globe clocking up more than 60,000 nautical miles, visiting 150 ports and 23 countries

Thousands gathered to watch Hokulea and her sister ship Hikianalia return home to Honolulu, Hawaii, after taking part in a three-year journey around the world

The crew used mostly sun and stars along with ocean waves and cloud movements to track where the ship was along the journey

Two ships covered over 60,000 nautical miles, more than 150 ports, and 23 countries and territories

A part of the ceremonies that took place on land however, as kalii - or spear throwing ceremony

A canoe replica of a traditional Polynesian voyaging vessel has returned to Honoulu after completing a three-year journey around the world.

Thousands of spectators gathered around the island of Oahu, Hawaii to welcome the Hokulea boat back on Saturday after it and sister ship Hikianalia covered a over 60,000 nautical miles, more than 150 ports, and 23 countries and territories.

The crew used mostly sun and stars along with ocean waves and cloud movements to track where the ship was along the journey.

Scroll down for video

The Hokulea Polynesian replica voyaging canoe came back to Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday after it and sister ship Hikianalia covered a over 60,000 nautical miles, more than 150 ports, and 23 countries and territories spanning over the course of three years

Thousands gathered in both replica Polynesian ships and modern vessels and boards to come celebrate the return

The Polynesian Voyaging Society, the organization helping man the voyage, had one goal - to showcase traditional Polynesian voyaging as well as highlight methods early settlers used to get to Hawaii.

Hokulea is a performance replica double-hulled sailing canoe that was built in the 1970s and traveled approximately 40,000 nautical miles on the trip called Malama Honua voyage - which means 'to care for our Island Earth'.

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

Beginning in May 2014 the boat stopped first in Tahiti before going to the following: Samoa, Aotearoa, Australia, Bali, Mauritius, South Africa, Brazil, Caribbean, US East Coast, Panama, Galapagos Island, Rapa Nui, Tahiti, and back to Hawaii.

Hikianalia went on its own expeditions to neighboring Hawaiian islands

A man blows a conch shell as the boats dock in Magic Island. The goal of the voyage was simple - to showcase traditional Polynesian voyaging as well as highlight methods early settlers used to get to Hawaii

Hokulea is a performance replica double-hulled sailing canoe that was built in the 1970s and travelled approximately 40,000 nautical miles on the trip called Malama Honua voyage - which means 'to care for our Island Earth'

Beginning in May 2014 the boat stopped first in Tahiti before going to the following: Samoa, Aotearoa, Australia, Bali, Mauritius, South Africa, Brazil, Caribbean, US East Coast, Panama, Galapagos Island, Rapa Nui, Tahiti, and back to Hawaii

The ship was met at the harbor by other replica ships along with modern ships, sailboats and boarders.

A part of the ceremonies that took place on land however, as kalii - or spear throwing ceremony - right of passag hasn't been performed in over 200 years according to Hawaii News Now.

The aggressive ceremony requires that spears be thrown towards one man as he either tries to catch or deflect them. It symbolizes a challenge presented to warriors entering new lands.

Polynesian Voyaging Society president and master navigator Nainoa Thompson waves to thew crowd as they dock the vessel at Magic Island

A member of the crew, Sam Kapoi, took place in the on land part of the ceremony called the kalii - spear throwing - which honors warriors and their canoes as they 'left the realm'

A member of the crew, Sam Kapoi, deflected eight spears when performing the ancient tradition.

'It was done for canoes that left the realm...basically in the hands of God. The spears show that the person catching is still a man, not a god,' Kapoi told Hawaii News Now.

Kapoi slammed the last spear into the ground, symbolizing the Hokulea's return.